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Written Question
Energy: Meters
Tuesday 31st January 2023

Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to help people who live in areas without adequate radio coverage access alternatives to standard smart meters.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

As many households and small businesses as possible should benefit from smart metering. The Data Communications Company (DCC), which operates the national communications infrastructure for smart metering, is obliged under its licence to provide communications coverage to at least 99.25% of premises across Great Britain.

In addition, the DCC is also required to seek to provide coverage where it is practicable and cost proportionate, and to assess opportunities to increase the overall level of coverage. Ofgem is responsible for regulating the DCC against its licence conditions.


Written Question
Liquefied Petroleum Gas: Contracts
Tuesday 24th January 2023

Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reviewing (a) liquefied petroleum gas metered estates ability to change suppliers and (b) the information provided to householders about their options to switch by their liquefied petroleum gas supplier when contract terms end.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Investigation Orders made by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) make it easier for customers to switch suppliers. There are separate Orders for individual householders and residents of metered estates. The operation of the orders is monitored by the CMA’s Remedies Monitoring Team. Further information, including a guide for customers, with contact details for the CMA, can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/liquefied-petroleum-gas-lpg-market-orders-and-calculator.

The LPG suppliers' trade association, ‘Liquid Gas UK’ (LGUK), offers a customer charter, an Ombudsman scheme and a post code search facility on its website to find alternative suppliers.


Written Question
Utilities: Insolvency
Monday 16th January 2023

Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure customer deposits with energy companies are protected in the event of energy company insolvency.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Customer deposits with energy suppliers are already protected in the event of supplier insolvency through the Supplier of Last Resort process and Special Administration Regime.


Written Question
Energy: Billing
Monday 16th January 2023

Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has (a) made an assessment of and (b) holds any data on the length of time it takes for customers requesting that an energy company repay a positive account balance for that balance to be repaid.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Regulatory compliance is a matter for Ofgem. The Department does not hold data on this issue.

Under existing rules set by Ofgem, suppliers must automatically refund outstanding credit balances within 10 days of issuing a final bill. Suppliers must also refund accumulated credit on request by an existing customer in a timely manner unless they have reasonable grounds not to. They must explain the reason to the customer.


Written Question
Energy: Billing
Monday 16th January 2023

Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has made an assessment of energy company compliance in instances when customers ask for a positive account balance to be refunded.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Regulatory compliance is a matter for Ofgem. The Department does not hold data on this issue.

Under existing rules set by Ofgem, suppliers must automatically refund outstanding credit balances within 10 days of issuing a final bill. Suppliers must also refund accumulated credit on request by an existing customer in a timely manner unless they have reasonable grounds not to. They must explain the reason to the customer.


Written Question
Energy: Billing
Monday 16th January 2023

Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions his Department has had with Ofgem on any actions they plan to take to prevent energy companies from increasing direct debit payments for customers when those customers have not been informed of those increases occurring.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Ministers and officials regularly meet with Ofgem to discuss a range of energy retail issues.

In 2022 Ofgem undertook a market compliance review and told a number of energy suppliers to take immediate and urgent action, after finding a range of weaknesses or failings with direct debits.

My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State has also written to domestic suppliers setting out his expectations on consumer direct debits.


Written Question
Alternative Fuel Payments
Monday 9th January 2023

Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to policy paper, How households and businesses will be supported by the Energy Prices Bill, what estimate his Department has made of the potential level of arrears households have accrued while awaiting payments from the Alternative Fuel Payment Alternative Fund since the announcement of that fund.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Since publication of the referenced policy paper, the Government has doubled support for alternatively fuelled households in recognition of the cost-of-living pressures caused by these rising fuel costs. This support will be available in February.

The Government is monitoring prices over the coming months and will consider further intervention if required to protect UK households from extraordinary fuel prices.


Written Question
Energy Supply: Ukraine
Monday 9th January 2023

Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions his Department has had with manufacturers of power distribution products on (a) supply chain support for products needed by Ukraine and (b) ensuring provision of those products to Ukraine.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department of International Trade is working with relevant industry associations and the UK supply chain to identify where UK expertise and equipment can be provided to help with vital repair of Ukraine’s energy supply infrastructure. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are working with the Ukrainian Government and Energy Community Secretariat to deliver these products.


Written Question
Alternative Fuel Payments
Monday 9th January 2023

Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when his Department plans to finalise plans for the distribution of Alternative Fuel Payments for people who live in off-grid properties.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government is providing a £200 Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) to help those households in Great Britain which use alternative fuels such as biomass or heating oil to meet energy costs this winter. Most households eligible for the AFP support in Great Britain, such as those in off-grid properties, will receive payment automatically via their electricity supplier in February. Those households that will need to apply for the AFP, for example because they do not have a relationship with an electricity supplier, will be able to do so in February.


Written Question
Alternative Fuel Payments
Friday 25th November 2022

Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the Alternative Fuel Payment in the context of the rate of consumer price index inflation in October 2022.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government has doubled support to £200 for alternatively fuelled households, in recognition of the pressures caused by these rising fuel costs. The Government is committed to delivering this payment to households as soon as possible this Winter. Further information on the delivery and timing of these payments will be announced in due course.